Date: Mon, 25 Sep 1995 11:50:31 -0400
From: "H Stephen STRAIGHT (Binghamton University,
SUNY)"
Subject: Re: Gen Ed Linguistics
At Binghamton University (SUNY) for over 15 years now most of the
Linguistics Program's 100-level offerings, and several of its higher-level
offerings as well, have satisfied either a humanities or a social sciences
distribution requirement -- at the student's choice -- in the Harpur
College of Arts & Sciences and, because of their linkage to Harpur's three
divisions, also in the Gen Ed requirements of Binghamton's other schools
(of Education and Human Development, Engineering and Applied Science,
Management, and Nursing). In particular, Anthro/Ling 112, Language in
Human Behavior, which surveys the findings (as opposed to the methods) of
linguistics -- required for the major but not a prerequisite for
higher-level courses -- has drawn up to 480 enrollees a year.
Under Harpur's -- and by extension Binghamton's -- divisionally defined
distribution requirements, which is all Binghamton has had in the way of
Gen Ed except for separately defined language and writing requirements,
any course whatsoever in a divisionally-grounded department's listings
could count toward humanities, social sciences, or science and mathematics
requirements. As an interdivisional program, Linguistics used a
combination of cross-listings and mere fiat to define the divisional
rubrics for its courses, many of which have counted in more than one
division (but with no divisional double-counting for an individual
student). For example, historical linguistics counts as Hum or Soc Sci,
sociolinguistics as Soc Sci, psycholinguistics as Soc Sci or Sci & Math,
and neurolinguistics as Sci & Math.
Beginning soon, in addition to Harpur's continuing distribution
requirements, Harpur students will have to meet a two-course "Diversity"
requirement, while Binghamton students at large will have to meet a new
set of Gen Ed requirements that include such headings as "US Pluralism",
"Global Interdependencies", and "Laboratory Science". It remains to be
seen how linguistics courses will mesh with these new requirements, but
precedent suggests that individual courses -- with our without new or
revamped titles and descriptions -- will eventually find their way into
all four of the mentioned rubrics and perhaps some others as well.
Linguistics easily vies for honors as the most interdisciplinary of
disciplines.
Best. 'Bye. Steve
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H Stephen STRAIGHT LxC Binghamton University (SUNY)
Assoc Prof, Anthro and Ling Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000
Dir, Langs Across the Curriculum Tel: 607-777-2824 Fax: 607-777-2889
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